Weddings are a staple of scripted TV -- there have been literally hundreds of them over the years between characte... Show More »

Weddings are a staple of scripted TV -- there have been literally hundreds of them over the years between characters. But when they're done right -- and sometimes when they go spectacularly wrong -- they make for great viewing.

Here are some of our favorite weddings, whether they ended well or badly, from over the years. « Less

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Leslie and Ben, 'Parks and Recreation':

Their courtship was full of surprises, so why not their wedding? After Ben helps Leslie pulling... Show More »

Their courtship was full of surprises, so why not their wedding? After Ben helps Leslie pulling off a black-tie fundraiser for her pet park project, spirits are so high that they decide to get married right then and there. With only two hours to pull it off, it's a race against the clock -- but the end result, as rushed as it was, also turned out incredibly sweet. Just as you'd expect with these two.

We should have known something was up when plans for Edith's wedding to the much olde... Show More »

We should have known something was up when plans for Edith's wedding to the much older Anthony seemed to be going so well, despite Lord Grantham's misgivings. Sure enough, Robert's worries worked their way into Anthony's head (and, to be fair, he had tried to discourage Edith as well), resulting in his leaving her at the altar, thereby proving one of the unwritten rules of "Downton Abbey": Lady Edith's lot is to suffer.

Well, that only took eight years. After as protracted a will they-won't they scenario as any sh... Show More »

Well, that only took eight years. After as protracted a will they-won't they scenario as any show has seen in some time -- not in terms of episodes, but in terms of time passed within the show -- Lady Mary and her cousin Matthew finally tied the knot at the start of Season 3. Bonus: Mary doesn't have to change her last name.

While the lords and ladies were being all coy upstairs, housemaid Anna Smith and valet John Bates were... Show More »

While the lords and ladies were being all coy upstairs, housemaid Anna Smith and valet John Bates were generating some real, if chaste, heat downstairs. The relationship between two of the show's most fundamentally decent characters has been a fan favorite, and they were rewarded at the end of Season 2 with a brief but lovely ceremony. The timing was a matter of necessity with the death of Bates' ex-wife hanging over his head, but no one questioned the love between the two.

In the Season 4 finale -- which, for all anyone knew at the time of filming, would be the series ender -- Chu... Show More »

In the Season 4 finale -- which, for all anyone knew at the time of filming, would be the series ender -- Chuck finally tied the knot with Sarah, his protector-turned-partner-turned-love of his life. That it came after an episode where Chuck lost the Intersect but still managed to save her made it that much sweeter.

The series finale of "Smallville" gave fans a whole lot of what they wanted -- including the union betwee... Show More »

The series finale of "Smallville" gave fans a whole lot of what they wanted -- including the union between Clark Kent and Lois Lane, after a bout of cold feet on both sides of the aisle. They exchanged vows just in time for a Darkseid-controlled Oliver Queen to wreck the church in an epic fight with Clark.

The relationship between the upbeat, committed Arizona and the twisted, snarky Callie was no... Show More »

The relationship between the upbeat, committed Arizona and the twisted, snarky Callie was not without its ups and downs, what with the whole Callie-Mark history and everything. But it was also pretty clear from the outset that they were great together, and their wedding near the end of Season 7 on "Grey's" affirmed that.

Having your power-mad brother essentially sell you to a warlord is not exactly the ideal wa... Show More »

Having your power-mad brother essentially sell you to a warlord is not exactly the ideal way to start a relationship, but that's the card Daenerys was dealt in the series premiere of "Game of Thrones." As a spectacle, the wedding was something to behold, and its unsentimental nature made for a fine introduction to the world of the series.

Maybe foreshadowing Ben and Leslie's future nuptials, April and Andy throw a dinner party ... Show More »

Maybe foreshadowing Ben and Leslie's future nuptials, April and Andy throw a dinner party at which they spring the news on everyone that, despite dating for only a month or so, they're getting married -- with Andy wearing his Reggie Wayne jersey instead of a coat and tie. The idea horrifies Leslie at first, but the ceremony that follows is so lovely, and specific to the characters, that her doubts melt away by the end. Plus: Chris Traeger break-dancing.

The event that kicked off the whole series was Alex stranding Dave at the altar in favor of a roller-bl... Show More »

The event that kicked off the whole series was Alex stranding Dave at the altar in favor of a roller-blading doofus named Bo. So, yeah, not the greatest of days. The two eventually learned to be around one another, and even started dating again, so all's well that ends well, we guess.

Kurt's dad and Finn's mom tied the knot in the Season 2 episode "Furt," and while their wedding was ... Show More »

Kurt's dad and Finn's mom tied the knot in the Season 2 episode "Furt," and while their wedding was mostly a backdrop to explore the relationship between their two sons, Mike O'Malley and Romy Rosemont absolutely sold the emotions Burt and Carole felt as they exchanged vows.

You could argue that Matt Smith's entire first season as the Doctor in a way built up to the wedding b... Show More »

You could argue that Matt Smith's entire first season as the Doctor in a way built up to the wedding between his companion Amy Pond and her "sometimes boyfriend" Rory Williams. You cannot argue that once it finally got there, it was wonderful.

Dorota was one of the few "Gossip Girl" characters who remained sympathetic throughout the series'... Show More »

Dorota was one of the few "Gossip Girl" characters who remained sympathetic throughout the series' run, so seeing her get married to the love of her life late in Season 3 was a nice treat for fans. Even if Blair did bail on the ceremony.

PB&J's relationship, which went from unrequited to when-will-they-ever-get-together to that rare thing ... Show More »

PB&J's relationship, which went from unrequited to when-will-they-ever-get-together to that rare thing on TV comedy, a couple that actually works, culminated in the tremendously sweet (and funny!) episode "Niagara," which saw them get married for real on a Niagara Falls boat cruise and then go through the crazy ceremony for everyone else.

Outside of Charles and Diana, probably the biggest wedding event of 1981 was the Nov. 16 union of L... Show More »

Outside of Charles and Diana, probably the biggest wedding event of 1981 was the Nov. 16 union of Luke Spencer (Anthony Geary) to the woman he had brutally attacked two years earlier, Laura Webber (Genie Francis). Not exactly a match made in heaven, but the story line arguably saved "GH" from cancellation and the duo became one of the most enduring couples in soap history.

Fine, so Meredith and Derek aren't legally married, but we have to say th... Show More »

Fine, so Meredith and Derek aren't legally married, but we have to say the Post-It wedding was a nice change to traditional exchanging of vows on TV shows (like, say, their Seattle Grace colleagues Alex and Izzie). And it actually made the couple more interesting after than they were before. Currently acting like newlyweds, who knows what the repercussions will be when the honeymoon ends, so to speak.

"Friends" delivered several memorable weddings over the years -- Ross' slip of the ton... Show More »

"Friends" delivered several memorable weddings over the years -- Ross' slip of the tongue with Emily, his and Rachel's hilarious, drunken Vegas nuptials ("Hello, Mrs. Ross!" "Hello, Mr. Rachel!"), Phoebe and Mike's snowbound ceremony -- but Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler's (Matthew Perry) stands out for how managed to come off (mostly) as intended despite all the turmoil swirling around it.

The polar opposite of every happy wedding on television is this blood-bathed soap clif... Show More »

The polar opposite of every happy wedding on television is this blood-bathed soap cliffhanger from 1985, in which the military-coup-inspired shooting spree at the wedding of Amanda and Prince Michael appeared to leave most of the wedding party either dead or mortally wounded. The show's producers were reportedly playing hardball with the cast in contract negotiations and wanted to leave their options open.

Ten years, countless false starts, one abusive singer-songwriter boyfriend and one Valerie aft... Show More »

Ten years, countless false starts, one abusive singer-songwriter boyfriend and one Valerie after they first met, "90210's" most enduring couple finally tied the knot in the series finale. Alas, we found out in The CW's updated version of the series that the marriage didn't stick.

The May 1984 episode "Passages" was a particularly bittersweet one since it also marked the series fin... Show More »

The May 1984 episode "Passages" was a particularly bittersweet one since it also marked the series finale after 11 seasons. The wedding isn't over the top, but sticks by the classic "Happy Days" formula -- simple, heartfelt and humorous -- with a few surprises thrown in like the return of Richie (Ron Howard). Howard (Tom Bosley) breaks the fourth wall and addresses the audience, thanking viewers "for being part of our family."

Not to stereotype it, but how could this wedding be anything short of fabulous? ... Show More »

Not to stereotype it, but how could this wedding be anything short of fabulous? With Nora (Sally Field) going overboard on flowers, and great wine from the family business, Kevin and Scotty (Matthew Rhys, Luke Macfarlane) commit to each other. Of course this was before Prop. 8.

Despite pre-wedding disasters -- including a hair mishap that left Marshall ... Show More »

Despite pre-wedding disasters -- including a hair mishap that left Marshall (Jason Segel) with a reverse Mohawk -- one of sitcomdom's most charming weddings reflects the show creators' belief that married life can be a very happy thing (even if you have to take two swings at the wedding, one private and one public, to make everybody happy). The fact that the spouses in question are still madly and truly in love is just the cherry on top.

At the end of the third season, Turk (Donald Faison) tries to tie the knot with Carla (Judy Reyes), but gets so delayed by surgery, the ceremony is canceled. The guests enjoy the reception anyway. Although the J.D.-Elliot love-hate plot is exasperating, the episode is filled with memorable moments like Ted singing with his band, a cameo by George Takei and the return of drunken Danni (Tara Reid). In the end, of course, we get our tender moment when Turk and Carla finally get hitched at the hospital by a patient who happens to be a priest.

Season two of "Chuck" closed with one of the most crazily inspired TV weddings in recent memory, invo... Show More »

Season two of "Chuck" closed with one of the most crazily inspired TV weddings in recent memory, involving Chuck (Zachary Levi) and Ellie's (Sarah Lancaster) dad, gangs of commandos and wedding gifts used as weapons. And, of course, Jeffster!, whose rendition of "Mr. Roboto" kept the guests distracted (if confused) during the carnage in the reception hall. Chuck even came through with a real wedding for his sister in the end.

Here's hoping Jim and Pam paid attention when "Office"-mate Phyllis married Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration. Even Phyllis giving Michael something to do (pushing her wheelchair-bound father down the aisle) wasn't enough to stop the boss inserting himself into everything from the vows to the cake-cutting ceremony. The high point? Reception music by Scrantonicity.

The episode titled "The Wedding" is a bit of a misnomer since Brandon (Jason Priestley) and Kelly (Jennie Garth) are ready to be married, dress for the part, can hear the band and see their friends gathered ... but chicken out at the last minute. You see, they feel much more like siblings or friends than lovers. As they announce the canceled nuptials, Kelly blazes a trail for the likes of Brad Womack, Jen Schefft and others on TV who have cold feet when she proclaims, "I choose me."

"The Simpsons" has flashed back to Homer and Marge's wedding numerous times over the years (we particularly like the "Treehouse of Horror" segment where it's revealed that Homer can't sell his soul to the devil because he already pledged it to Marge). The 1991 episode "I Married Marge," though, is a near-perfect flashback showing how they came to be married in a casino, with a few bucks in free chips thrown in.

"Desperate Housewives" ended its fifth season on a cliffhanger: Who was standing at the altar with Mike (James Denton)? To few people's surprise, it was Susan (Teri Hatcher) -- and to even fewer people's surprise, there were several instances of farcical hijinks involving her and rival Katherine (Dana Delany) on the way to the altar.

Mike, Carol, his three boys and her three very lovely girls formed a family almost effortlessly -- a... Show More »

Mike, Carol, his three boys and her three very lovely girls formed a family almost effortlessly -- at least compared to what most real-life blended families deal with. The same couldn't be said for the family pets. When the boys' dog took off after the girls' cat in the middle of their parents' nuptials, the wedding cake was caught in the crossfire.

Adding "Ruined Joy's Wedding" to his karma list was a must after Earl (Jason Lee) crashed her ... Show More »

Adding "Ruined Joy's Wedding" to his karma list was a must after Earl (Jason Lee) crashed her ceremony and accidentally kicked a soccer ball at her face. Earl tried to help Joy (Jaime Pressly) plan a new wedding, but the ex-married couple ended up sleeping together instead. A favorite episode for "Earl" fans, the drama ends with the wedding Joy always wanted.

Try as they might, Chloe & Jimmy 4Ever was not meant to be. After several fits and starts... Show More »

Try as they might, Chloe & Jimmy 4Ever was not meant to be. After several fits and starts they finally made it down the aisle in the Kent family farm's barn, only to have Davis Bloome (completely Doomsday-ed out) crash the reception, slash Jimmy across the chest and abduct Chloe. This really spells the beginning of the end for the couple. To make matters worse, ultimately Davis kills Jimmy for good, and Chloe's good pal Superman refuses to go back in time and fix it.

There's nothing worse than waking up on your wedding day to find out you're pregn... Show More »

There's nothing worse than waking up on your wedding day to find out you're pregnant. Really, really, obviously pregnant with the eggs of an alien that will kill you when you give birth. Yet that's what happens to Gwen. Between dealing with getting the alien offspring out of her, explaining her "condition" to her wedding guests and sharing some "Do you really want to marry this guy?" back-and-forth with Captain Jack, it's a full day. Luckily at the reception all the guests' memories get wiped. If only it were so easy in real life.

In what parallel universe would a woman throw over a successful psychiatrist for an alcoholic, womanizing ... Show More »

In what parallel universe would a woman throw over a successful psychiatrist for an alcoholic, womanizing ex-athlete? If you're part of the "Cheers" realm, that would be cocktail waitress Diane Chambers (Shelley Long), who dumped the good Dr. Crane (Kelsey Grammer) at the altar in Italy in favor of her boss, former Red Sox pitcher Sam Malone (Ted Danson). Years later, and after many chances, Sam and Diane still couldn't get it together.

Befitting a relationship that took nine-plus years to get to the altar -- although, to be fair,... Show More »

Befitting a relationship that took nine-plus years to get to the altar -- although, to be fair, Daphne (Jane Leeves) was oblivious to Niles' (David Hyde Pierce) infatuation for the first several of those -- the now-happy couple couldn't have an easy time tying the knot. First came the elopement in Reno where they forgot the rings, then there was the quick civil ceremony at the courthouse that offended Daphne's mom, and finally, back to the courthouse for the third ceremony -- where the truth finally comes out.

Poor Syd. After so many Mr. Wrongs, after the prostitution, the attempted murder, the cult, the loon... Show More »

Poor Syd. After so many Mr. Wrongs, after the prostitution, the attempted murder, the cult, the loony bin, you finally found happiness in the high-pitched Craig. He was really over Amanda, and you were really happy. It was a beautiful ceremony. It's really too bad you got run over and killed (but not really) just moments after saying "I do."

Who can forget the sight of Rhoda (Valerie Harper) running through the streets of the Bronx in her wedding gown... Show More »

Who can forget the sight of Rhoda (Valerie Harper) running through the streets of the Bronx in her wedding gown after her ride with flaky Phyllis fell through? Not the 50 million-plus Americans who tuned in to watch Rhoda and Joe wed -- making the special episode one of the most-watched television events of the 1970s.

Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) was never going to have the big, fancy Charlotte York-style wedding. That's why it was no surprise that Miranda chose an intimate gathering of friends and family at a city garden to celebrate her nuptials -- and it was more than enough to please any "SATC" fan.

Haley (Bethany Joy Galeotti) and Nathan (James Lafferty) had initially married in order to get intim... Show More »

Haley (Bethany Joy Galeotti) and Nathan (James Lafferty) had initially married in order to get intimate (a horrible main basis for marriage), but after time (and TV seasons) passed, they decided that it was true love after all and they should renew their vows in style. Well, it was the gorgeous, fairy tale, unreal wedding that all first weddings should be, complete with a horse-drawn carriage transporting the bride, a bridesmaid (Sophia Bush) quoting Shakespeare and a touching Snow Patrol song on the soundtrack. Take note, Jon and Kate Gosselin. Haley and Nathan are still together, and they didn't need an elaborate Hawaii renewal ceremony to do it.

The tacky setting. The bad hair on both bride and groom. The time that had p... Show More »

The tacky setting. The bad hair on both bride and groom. The time that had passed between their cheesetastic high school years and the post-college nuptials. It was all so wrong and yet so right. Sorry Slater, Zack and Kelly have always been 4-EVER.

Spoiler alert for anyone who missed this canceled whodunit series: Henry and Trish never got m... Show More »

Spoiler alert for anyone who missed this canceled whodunit series: Henry and Trish never got married. The couple whisked their friends and family away to an island off the coast of Seattle only to have them killed off one by one. The wedding was officially called off when the groom stabbed his bride to death.